By Michael Eader
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
In recent years, the relocation of professional sports organizations has been on the rise. Since 2016, the St. Louis Rams and San Diego Chargers have relocated to Los Angeles, while the Oakland Raiders have moved to Las Vegas.
The Maryland Stadium Authority hopes to prevent such relocation of the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles’ respective organizations as they seek state legislative approval to borrow $1.2 billion for stadium upgrades and renovations.
The MSA emphasizes that these stadiums have a positive impact on the city and that keeping these organizations is crucial to the well-being of the community.
“Year-round events at the Camden Yards Sports Complex create jobs and generate sports, leisure, and business visitor spending with the resulting tax revenues reinvested to fund essential citizen services and improve Marylander’s quality of life,” said Rachelina Bonacci, a public information officer for the Maryland Stadium Authority.
Since 1992, the Orioles and Ravens organizations have generated approximately 4,000 jobs each year, distributed approximately $8.3 billion in employee earnings, and garnered about 85 million visitors.
“Along with economic impact, prestige, and civic pride of Maryland being home to the Baltimore Orioles and the Baltimore Ravens, the professional teams, players, and personnel support nonprofits, schools, churches and community groups with generous donations, appearances and grants throughout the year,” Bonacci said.
Thomas Stallings, who played baseball at the Virginia Military Institute and is a former University of Charleston recruiting coordinator and hitting coach, said baseball can have a big impact on a city.
“There is an intrinsic love that sports teams create in an individual that is hard to replicate as many people’s happiness or sadness can be related to the success of their local team,” Stallings said. “Good team, happy community.”
The Maryland Stadium Authority, established by the General Assembly in 1986, was formed to retain Major League Baseball in Maryland and return an NFL organization to Baltimore. The authority was established just two years after the Baltimore Colts relocated from Baltimore to Indianapolis.
“My dad is a Colts fan because that’s the team he grew up with,” said local Baltimore Ravens fan Connor Blythe. “I don’t know if I could remain a Ravens fan if they left; it just wouldn’t feel like my team anymore.”
The Maryland Stadium Authority took a decade to fulfill its mission, officially returning an NFL team to Baltimore in 1996 with the formation of the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens’ lease on M&T Bank Stadium is set to end after the 2027 NFL season, while the Orioles’ lease will end after the 2023 MLB season.
A bill is soon set to be introduced to the Maryland House of Delegates. It will seek an allowable bond debt of $1.2 billion for stadium projects, increasing nearly $1 billion upon the current limit of $235 million.
“In the upcoming 2022 baseball season, MSA looks forward to celebrating the 30th anniversary of our beloved ballpark with an investment in the Camden Yards Sports Complex for future generations of Marylanders employment and enrichment,” Bonacci said.